In the younger generation of the Shan family, Shan Tian ranked third.
Only boys could make it to the ranking.
Shan Tian’s mother was the ex-wife of Shan Zhengfeng, the patriarch of the Shan family. She died in a flying ship crash when Shan Tian was still a kid. In her life, she had given birth to a son and a daughter. So, Shan Tian also had a biological elder sister.
Shan Jian was ranked sixth in the younger generation.
His mother was the second wife of Shan Zhengfeng, the patriarch of the Shan family.
Therefore, Shan Jian and Shan Tian were half-brothers of the same father.
When he heard his father talking about his sister, Shan Tian looked slightly excited.
He immediately turned around and left the hall.
Shan Jian glanced at his father, knowing that his father was attempting to soften Shan Tian with the family bond and compel his third son to cough up Li Mu’s whereabouts.
If there was someone in the Shan family who could make the unbending Shan Tian break his promise to Li Mu, that person could only be his biological elder sister.
Many years ago, for the sake of the family’s interests, the Shan family tried to make Shan Tian’s elder sister, Shan Yunxiu, marry a future leader of the Heavenly Devil Sect so as to have a strong backer. However, at that time, Shan Yunxiu already had someone she loved, so how could she accept it?
Shan Tian and Shan Yunxiu fought against it with all their might, but the family cracked down on them.
In the end, Shan Yunxiu ran away from the family and became a nun without tonsure in the Bright Jade Taoist Temple in the Ziwei Star Zone, and finally avoided the marriage with that future leader of the Heavenly Devil Sect.
To a great extent, it was also because of this matter that Shan Tian was disappointed by his family. As a result, he gave up everything in the family and began to roam about in the cosmos.
“Father, how should we deal with that little Taoist?” asked Shan Jian.
With a wry smile, Shan Zhengfeng said, “It’s all bad karma. Go tell your third brother, if he’s willing to tell us where Li Mu is and is willing to lead the way for Young Master Wei, I will no longer object to the relationship between Xiu’er and that little Taoist.”
Shan Jian was stunned. Then, he nodded, bowed, and left.
There was still a hubbub of voices in the hall. It was quite clamorous.
The elders of the Shan family were extremely displeased with Shan Tian’s behavior. They all condemned him for not knowing what was really important and not putting the interest of the family first at such a critical moment.
However, Shan Tian didn’t know any of those that happened in that hall after he left.
He scurried to the Scholar’s Hall in the backyard of his family mansion.
This was the place where his mother used to live when she was alive. Shan Tian believed that when his sister returned to the Shan family, she would definitely live here.
“Sister, I heard that you’re back?”
Shan Tian shouted expectantly the moment he crossed the door.
Since his sister became a nun, she had never returned home before. Shan Tian went to the Bright Jade Temple several times hoping to visit her, but did not succeed. After so many years, Shan Tian could finally see her sister again, so he could barely hide his excitement at this moment.
In the lobby, there was the sound of chanting.
As soon as Shan Tian walked in, he saw a slim figure in a Taoist robe and wearing a Taoist cap. A woman dressed like a Taoist nun was sitting in front of the candlelight, devoutly chanting Taoist scriptures. This was none other than his elder sister, Shan Yunxiu.
Beside his elder sister stood a young man in a black Taoist robe. He stood there quietly with his hands clasped behind his back.
“Eh?”
Shan Tian was taken aback.
“It’s him?
“How come he’s here as well?”
The slim Taoist nun turned around. She had an oval face as smooth as white jade, and her facial features were dignified and delicate. Even though she was dressed in a loose-fitting Taoist robe, she could hardly hide her curvy figure. She was graceful and had a kind of holy charm. When she saw Shan Tian come in, she was also surprised. Then, she hailed, “Little brother.”
In an instant, the rims of Shan Tian eyes turned red.
At this very moment, this indomitable man couldn’t help but break out in tears.
“Sister.” Shan Tian couldn’t help but rush over with such momentum that he seemed to be able to knock down a gold mountain or a jade pillar. Next, he knelt down and threw his arms around the Taoist nun named Shan Yunxiu, tears profusely streaming down his face.
Back then, after their mother passed away, the pair of sister and brother depended solely on each other. Their father, who was busy getting married again and handling family affairs, unintentionally neglected the two children. It was Shan Yunxiu who played the maternal role and took good care of Shan Tian, who was just a little kid at that time. As time went by, Shan Tian gradually shone in the family and gained some attention. Shan Zhengfeng once cultivated this son of his as the future patriarch. But later, there came the incident of the arranged marriage.
Shan Tian didn’t hesitate to give up everything he had and openly fight against the family, hoping that he could protect his elder sister.
Even if he had to die for the sake of his elder sister, he would not furrow his brows.
The incident that happened back then had caused quite a stir.
In the end, Shan Yunxiu went off to the Bright Jade Temple and became a nun without tonsure. It was not until then that her family canceled the arranged marriage with that deemed unparalleled future leader of the Heavenly Devil Sect.
Because of that incident, Shan Tian had been looked down upon by his family. In a rage, he had given up on his position as a member of the family and began to travel in the space in order to find diversion from the depression in his heart.
Later, Shan Tian went to the Bright Jade Temple in the Ziwei Star Zone several times to see his elder sister. However, because of some rules of the Bright Jade Temple, he was shut out. Therefore, he had not seen his older sister for many years.
Today, he finally met his elder sister, whom he had dreamed about countless times. Shan Tian felt like he was in a dream.
Like old times, Shan Yunxiu gently stroked Shan Tian’s hair and said, “You’ve grown up and become stronger. But you don’t do your shaving…” As she spoke, tears silently slid out from her beautiful eyes and fell on Shan Tian’s hair.
Tears welled up in the eyes of both the sister and the brother.
The Taoist standing by the side was very young. His face was fair and pretty, but there was a touch of laziness in his expression. Gazing at the man holding Shan Yunxiu in his arms, the corner of his mouth twitched. Then, he deliberately coughed a few times.
However, seeing that Shan Tian was still holding on to Shan Yunxiu, he said, “Hey, you two have finally met, so what are you crying for? Show me a happy face. Tiantian, let go of your sister now. You’re a grown man. It’s not proper to grab a girl in your arms the moment you meet her, is it?” As the Taoist spoke, he forcibly dragged Shan Tian away from his sister with a jealous look.
As soon as Shan Tian heard the pet name “Tiantian”, his face turned livid. Shan Tian stood up, scowled at the young Taoist, and said, “Dao Lan, how dare you come to see my sister? Where were you when my sister needed you the most back then?”
The young Taoist looked left and right and said awkwardly, “At that time, I just… didn’t make it.”
“You…” Shan Tian was even angrier. “I had arranged everything by that time. As long as you showed up that night and eloped with my older sister, the rest would be left to me to handle. However, you, a guy who has no credit and shouldn’t have been trusted, chickened out and didn’t go pick up my sister at the last moment. Do you know, that night, my sister waited for you under that tree in cold moonlight for a whole night? Could you imagine how sad and desperate my sister was at that time?”
There was a trace of sadness in the indolent eyes of the young Taoist named Dao Lan. But then, he said with his characteristic sluggish smile, “I set off very early that day, but I got caught up by something on the way. When I hurried to the cold moon tree, the place we agreed to meet, Yunxiu had already been taken to the Bright Jade Temple.”
“Humph.” Shan Tian snorted coldly and said, “That’s no excuse. You’re such a heartless person. How could you still have the face to show up? As I said, if I see you pestering my sister and hurt her feelings again, I will definitely break your legs.”
“Er… No, no, I’d never let that happen again.” Dao Lan hurriedly put up two fingers and swore.
A blush climbed onto the face of the beautiful Taoist nun named Shan Yunxiu.
It was true that she had felt despair at that time, but she had not truly given up on this man.
Because no one else could ever understand that path of life they had shared together. She could not believe that those vows this man had made to her when they were in love were just perfunctory. Otherwise, after entering the Bright Jade Temple, she would not have chosen to be a nun without tonsure. Instead, she would have shaved her hair and become a real nun a long time ago.
But it was not right to say that she didn’t resent this man at all.
After all, in that most desperate and fearful night, this man, who used to be the person she trusted the most, was the source of her courage and hope to keep going.
However, after waiting under the cold moon tree with hope and longing for a whole night, she still did not see him come.
“What kind of thing could hold him up from such an important matter?”
Shan Tian glared at Dao Lan angrily and snorted coldly. Then, he turned his head to look at his elder sister, and his expression turned extremely obedient and gentle. Then, he said nervously, “Sister, why did you come home this time? Doesn’t the rule of the Bright Jade Temple say that their disciples are not allowed to return to the secular world? I went to the Bright Jade Temple several times hoping to visit you and knelt at the gate of the temple for a year, but they still didn’t let me see you… Now that you’re back, you wouldn’t go back to that temple again, would you?”
Shan Yunxiu answered, “My master said that I’m still not done with the life in the secular world, so he asked me to go back to the Opposite Bank Star.”
Dao Lan immediately grinned and echoed, “Your master is that Taoist Lotus? He’s a living Bodhisattva. Haha, he is so right on this. Yunxiu, since your master also said that you’re not down with the secular world, why don’t you take off your Taoist robe and come with me? I bet that the future leader of the Heavenly Devil Sect has long forgotten what happened back then. Now, there’s nothing that can stop us from being together.”
Shan Yunxiu’s oval face, which was as fair as white jade, immediately burned with a flush.
Shan Tian bawled, “Let’s clear up the old issue first… You ate your words and didn’t come to pick up my elder sister that night. But now, you again want to take my elder sister away without asking for anyone’s permission. How could you be so thick-skinned?”
Dao Lan didn’t dare to offend his future brother-in-law too much. He hurriedly explained, “That was an accident. It was absolutely an accident. This time, I swear, if I ever disappoint Yunxiu again and do anything that hurts Yunxiu, then God will… well, make me fall into a cesspit and drown alive.”
“Bah,” Shan Yunxiu spat.
Shan Tian was quite speechless.
This vow was so disgusting.
When others swore for love, it must be made to the sun or the moon and relate to all the wonderful things and eternity. Yet, this dubious guy made such a vow about cesspit.
He was exactly the same as he was in the past.
As they were talking, a clear voice came from behind them.
“Daddy, Daddy, you’re back!”
The sound of footsteps came from behind him. It was a girl around seven. She was very cute, as if she was a doll carved out of jade. She was wearing a colorful coat and skirt, scurrying all the way to Shan Tian. She rushed over and jumped onto Shan Tian’s back. With her little hands tightly held around his neck, she said, “Daddy, mammy and I miss you so much.”
A gentle and beautiful young lady also came to the side of Shan Tian with a smile.
They were Shan Tian’s wife and daughter.
The smile on Shan Tian’s face melted in his eyes.
“Xuan’er, quick, greet your auntie.”
“Daddy, don’t be silly. I’ve greeted auntie long before you came. Haha.” The little girl giggled.
Dao Lan said shamelessly, “Wow, what a lovely girl. I’m your uncle-in-law. This is our first encounter. I’d appreciate your advice and comments.”
Xuan’er widened her big eyes and looked at Dao Lan. Then, she stretched out her hand and said in a clear voice, “Nice to meet you, uncle-in-law. Where is my first-encounter gift?”
“Uh…” Dao Lan covered his forehead in embarrassment.
“How could children nowadays be so smart?”
